Mizzou Tigers quarterback Beau Pribula, receiver Johnson to enter transfer portal

The Missouri Tigers’ quarterback and receiver ranks will look different heading into the postseason and beyond.

Senior quarterback Beau Pribula, who spent the 2025 season with Mizzou after transferring in from Penn State, will leave MU via the NCAA transfer portal, PowerMizzou.com reported Thursday morning.

Junior wideout Marquis Johnson is similarly expected to enter the transfer portal when it opens, according to multiple reports, and will not suit up for Missouri in the Gator Bowl against Virginia on Dec. 27 in Jacksonville, Florida.

The decisions by Pribula and Johnson add to a growing list of offensive departures as the Tigers begin to navigate the early stages of the portal cycle.

Pribula came to Columbia with high hopes and earned the starting job but was injured during an Oct. 25 game against Vanderbilt and missed multiple weeks.

His name had already been removed from MU’s online roster as of midday Thursday. In his lone season with the Tigers, he completed 67.4% of his passes for 1,941 yards, 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He also ran for 297 yards and six touchdowns.

Johnson, meanwhile, is the third MU receiver this month to announce plans to transfer, following redshirt freshman James Madison II and junior Josh Manning. A three-year contributor, Johnson arrived in Columbia with game-breaking speed and quickly showed his ability to stretch the field.

As a true freshman in 2023, he totaled 383 receiving yards and three touchdowns on just 13 catches, averaging nearly 30 yards per reception. One of those grabs helped flip momentum in Missouri’s Cotton Bowl win over Ohio State.

But even with steady production, the breakout season many anticipated for him never fully materialized. Mizzou’s offense leaned heavily on Kevin Coleman Jr. and began to incorporate younger options as the year went on, including true freshman Donovan Olugbode, who emerged as a reliable target down the stretch.

With Johnson opting out of the bowl game, Missouri’s available receivers against Virginia will include Coleman, Olugbode, Xavier Loyd, Daniel Blood, Logan Muckey, Shaun Terry and DaMarion Fowlkes. Coleman, the team’s leading receiver this season, will exhaust his eligibility following the bowl.

Pribula and Johnson would be the seventh and eighth Missouri players to enter the transfer portal. The winter transfer window opens Jan. 2 and runs for 15 days.

Hardy approaching unanimous All-American status

Following a selection to the Sporting News All-American first team Wednesday, making him just the third Tiger to be so honored, running Ahmad Hardy is inching closer to becoming a unanimous All-American.

With first-team selections from the American Football Coaches Association, Walter Camp Football Foundation and Associated Press, all Hardy needs is a selection from the Football Writers Association of America. That is expected to be announced Friday.

As it stands, Hardy is Mizzou’s 15th consensus All-American, as he reached the threshold of being chosen by three of the five major selectors Tuesday.

Hardy is also one of three finalists for the Doak Walker Award, which is given to the top running back in the country. He ranked second in rushing yards (1,560) and led all others in rushing yards per game (130.0).

McClellan, Pride accept pre-draft all-star game invites

Out of college eligibility, a couple of Missouri seniors accepted important invites to boost their NFL Draft stock.

Defensive tackle Chris McClellan accepted an invite to the Senior Bowl on Tuesday, joining defensive end Zion Young. McClellan notched 42 total tackles and five sacks in the 2025 season to help facitllaite a strong defensive line.

The Senior Bowl will be played Jan. 31 in Mobile, Alabama. Offensive tackle Armand Membou appeared in the last game, ahead of being selected at No. 7 by the New York Jets.

Cornerback Toriano Pride Jr. accepted an invite to the Hula Bowl, which takes place Jan. 10 in Orlando, Florida. Pride recorded 23 total tackles, two interceptions, four pass deflections and a fumble recovery this season.

Current New York Jets starting quarterback Brady Cook also participated in the Hula Bowl at the start of the year.

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